The Outlaw's Obsession (9 page)

Chapter Eight

Sonya knew it was early as soon as she opened her eyes and only the barest amount of light filtered through the window. She pushed herself up in bed but hissed out as pain lanced down her arm. Shortly after Jagger had left her alone the pain pill had kicked in and she was able to relax as the agony in her shoulder eased. She had finished her sandwich and then gone to sleep. But even the next morning she didn’t feel any better than she had yesterday. She was still worried about everything, and it almost seemed worse now. Jagger had said Trick was still out there, and although he had declared no one would hurt her again, how could someone possibly make sure that she would be safe when she wasn’t staying here any longer than it took to heal her arm?

Going slowly this time, she moved until she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Taking a moment to just breathe, she finally stood and walked over to the bathroom. Her reflection showed nasty circles under her eyes, her hair a matted mess, and her overall appearance looking like she had been resurrected from the dead. She pulled open the drawer
below,
saw a new toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, and even a few other hygienic things that she silently said thank you that they were here.

After brushing her teeth, washing her face, and putting on some deodorant, Sonya headed back out into the room and contemplated what she should do now. Should she wait in here for Jagger to get her, or to see if Court would
come
check out her shoulder? The clock showed that it was a little after seven in the morning. Jagger had told her that she should stay in her room last night due to them partying out there, and she assumed it had gone on all night, although she had surprisingly slept through it if it had. She wasn’t about to stay in the room though, and besides, Jagger had told her if she needed anything to let them know. She walked over to the door and opened it. Everything was quiet when she stuck her head out and looked down the hallway. There was a back door a few feet from her room, and to the left she could see a few other doors. Pulling it open completely and stepping out of the room, she hesitated for just a moment, but told herself that everything would be fine. She started walking and took a right and went into the main room Jagger had taken her to last night. It looked a lot different with the sun shining through the main window right across from her, although there was still an almost smoky quality in the air. The sound of glasses clanking had her looking at the bar and seeing the blonde that had been giving her the nasty glare last night stand up with a tray of beer bottles and pilsner glasses on a tray. She stopped when she saw Sonya, but gave nothing away in her expression.

“You’re up early.” The blonde’s voice was scratchy and sounded as though she had been smoking cigarettes for the last twenty years. She looked older than Sonya, but the age on her face had nothing to do with how old she probably really was and everything to do with the life she had led.

“Uh, yeah.”
Sonya looked around again, feeling slightly awkward because she remembered the look this woman had given her last night when Jagger had pushed her away and had gone to Sonya.

“You thirsty or hungry?” the blonde asked, and before Sonya could respond she turned around and opened up a small stainless steel fridge. “We have some bread in
here,
and a little jelly and butter if you want. Or I can heat up a leftover enchilada that Dallas was eating last night.” She glanced over her shoulder at Sonya.

“I’m not really hungry. You have anything to drink besides beer and water back there?”

The blonde smirked and turned to grab a jug of orange juice. She held it out to show Sonya.

“Yeah, juice would be great.”

The blonde nodded.

 
Sonya headed toward the bar and took a seat at the counter. The sound of someone snorting had her looking over her shoulder. There was a burly man lying on the leather couch, but he was in all black with a leather jacket thrown over his face, so she hadn’t spotted him until right then. The sound of someone setting a glass down in front of her had Sonya turning back around “Thanks.”

The blonde nodded, but watched her strangely. She tilted her head to the body currently snoring away on the couch. “That’s Bill-O. He’s been a member since forever. Hell, he might have been one of the founding members of this charter for all I know. He’s been with the club since I’ve been here, and that’s been a few years now.”

 
Sonya looked away from the man and looked at the blonde again. There was something in the way the blonde had said that last part that had Sonya straightening. If she didn’t know better she would have assumed it was almost a challenge.

“I’m DeDe by the way.” She held her hand out, and Sonya reached out and clasped it.
“Jagger’s main girl.”
The way she said “Jagger’s girl” shouldn’t have had Sonya feeling anything, but as it was she felt slightly annoyed by that reference. It was funny that this woman felt the need to stake some kind of claim on him like Sonya was some kind of competition. But Sonya knew the type of woman DeDe was, the club pussy that hung around, pleasuring the members with hopes and dreams of one day being able to say they were an old lady.

Well, have at it, girlfriend.
Sonya was trying to get out of the MC world, not dig herself deeper in it. She had seen the worst of the worst when it came to this life. The Grizzly MC may be very different from Trick’s, but there were still the same things being passed around: drugs, booze, sex, and violence.
Instead of commenting on that Sonya smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
Grabbing her juice and taking a drink, the awkwardness intensified because DeDe kept watching her.

“So, how long do you plan on staying here?”

Not that it was any of her business, but Sonya also didn’t want to be rude, even though this chick hadn’t exactly been the Welcoming Committee.

“Not long.
Just until my shoulder heals.”

 
DeDe looked at the shoulder that Sonya pointed to. She wasn’t about to go into the details, and fortunately DeDe didn’t press her.

“That’s good. We are kind of full on club whores right now.” There was
a cattiness
to the way DeDe said those words, but it didn’t take a detective to figure out this woman saw Sonya as a threat. Clearly she had a thing for Jagger and was trying to make it known that he was off limits.

“I’m not a club whore.” Sonya eyed DeDe’s apparel, one that was nothing but strips of material across her tits and ass. “Nor would I ever want to cheapen myself to that.” DeDe’s belly button ring glinted in the morning light, and when Sonya brought her eyes back to the overly painted face of the woman currently narrowing her eyes at her, all she could do was smile. Sonya didn’t need to point out that club whores—DeDe included—were a dime a dozen. They couldn’t have any self-respect to just sleep with one member after the other.
And for what, to become the revered old lady of one of them?
No, thanks.
“Thanks for the juice, but I’ll just finish it in my room.” She lifted her glass and got off the stool. Making her way back to her room, Sonya was so focused on the ground in front of her and her thoughts racing through her head concerning what her life would be like once she was on her own that she didn’t realize anyone was coming toward her until she slammed right into their chest. The juice splashed down the front of her shirt in a frigid spray, and a shocked gasp left her. Hands gripped her arms to keep her from falling over, and she knew it was Jagger before she even looked into his face. The broad chest right in front of her face was etched in her memory, and even with his black t-shirt and cut on it was still impressive.

“You good?”
There was a little bit of humor in his voice.

She looked into his face and felt her cheeks heat. Yeah, she was standing here with juice all down the front of her shirt, and here was Jagger all but laughing at her. He looked good in the morning light, even with the darker, more pronounced stubble on his face.

“Just a little embarrassed.”

Jagger full out chuckled now.

Sonya couldn’t help but laugh as well. “Sorry about that.”

“Nothing to be sorry about.”
His grin was all straight white teeth, and looked so good at him.

“You should smile more.” God, why had she said that out loud? She felt her cheeks heat even further and watched his smile disappear. Yeah, she just needed to bury her head in the sand right now.

He cleared his throat, let go of her arms, and took a step back.
“You hungry?”
Sonya wasn’t really, but it was still early.

She looked over her shoulder and saw DeDe watching them with this peculiar look on her face. It was a mixture of jealousy and anger, and directed right at Sonya.

“I have to run some papers to Dallas over at the bike shop, but there is a little diner about five minutes from the shop. The food is greasy, but their southwest omelets are pretty fucking good.” He smiled, but it was softer this time, and she wondered if he was forcing it or if it came naturally. This man wasn’t a soft type in any way, shape, or form.

“Yeah, okay, but,” she picked at her clothes, “I don’t have anything to wear aside from a soggy shirt, too tight sweats, and some dirty jeans from yesterday.”

“I’ll let you wear another shirt, and then take you to a shop owned by one of the club … one of the females that hang out at the club.” Yeah he was about to say whore.

Instinctively she looked over at DeDe again. Yup, she was still glaring daggers at her.
“Yeah.
Okay. I would actually really like that.”

“I figured you’d probably want to get out of here, if only for a couple of hours.”

“But—” She looked down and heard him inhale.

“You don’t have to be scared to leave the clubhouse as long as
me
or any of the Grizzly members are with you. Believe me, if Trick is stupid enough to try anything with us while you’re in our care, then…”

She glanced up at him when he didn’t finish, and she saw the play of emotions on his face. But the main one was anger.

“He won’t hurt you.
Plain and simple.”
He shook his head and kept his eyes trained on hers. “But I won’t force you to go anywhere if you feel it’s too soon or you’re too frightened. I know it hasn’t even been a day since you left Trick’s place, but you’ll be out on your own soon enough.” He said the last part more gently, and she nodded.

“No, I want to go. I have to find my own way, and I know you wouldn’t let Trick hurt me. You helped me when you didn’t have to, mended me, gave me food, water, and shelter, and are going out of your way to watch over me until my shoulder heals.” She smiled and found herself reaching out to touch him on the forearm. He grew taut, and she felt the muscles in his arms harden. “Thank you. I won’t ever be able to tell you that
enough,
and that if you hadn’t helped me I would be dead right now.” Emotion suddenly clogged Sonya’s throat as she really let all of her words sink in. Jagger would never know what he had done for her, what he
was
doing for her, and she hoped one day she could repay him in some way.

Wanting to show him how grateful she was she rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his cheek. His whiskers scratched her mouth, but strangely it was almost erotic in the way it made her feel. That ever-present electricity moved across her body, and it seemed like minutes had passed that she stayed so close to him. But then she slowly moved away at the same time he turned and looked at her, and Sonya’s heart stopped as they stared each other in the eye. She was on the tip of her toes, and their faces were no more than an inch apart. They breathed the same air, and had this chemistry that made absolutely no sense, but that felt incredibly right. Maybe she shouldn’t fight it? That sounded nice and all, but she couldn’t forget about what was going on in her life, the dangers still around her, or that her time with the Grizzly MC was borrowed.

Sonya realized Jagger had circled his hands around her upper arms once more, but he wasn’t just holding her, but keeping her close and moving his thumbs back and forth over her arms. Sonya opened her mouth, maybe to tell him this was bad, or maybe it was because this felt so good. But before anything could be said the sound of DeDe clearing her throat brought them both out of whatever haze they had been trapped in. Sonya blinked and lowered herself to her feet at the same time Jagger let go of her arms. She took a step to the side and looked over at DeDe. She smiled at them, but Sonya didn’t have to be a shifter to know it was
fake
—like everything else on this woman.